Device for vaporizing and burning liquid fuel



q 1619,859 Mc-l'Ch .8: M. M. GILLAM 7 DEVICE FOR VAPORIZING AND BURNING LIQUID FUEL Filed July 19, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet March 8, 1 927. M. M. GILLAM 1,619,859

DEVICE FOR VAPORIZING AND BURNING LIQUID FUEL Filed July 19. 1924 2 s t 's e t 2 V x 5 lilfl'il; [ll/ll, firm I \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\%M imm IN I/EN TOR Patented Mar. 8, 1927.

UNHTED STATES ra'rsa'r orrics.

MANLY M. GILLAM, OF FLUSHING, NEW YORK; ARTHUR L. GILLAM ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID MANLY M. GILLAIII, DECEASED.

DEVICE FOR VAPORIZING AND BURNING LIQUID FUEL.

Application filed July 19, 1924. Serial No. 727,087.

In the practical operation of devices of this nature, where an important part of the service rendered is to be in connection with household needs, with units relatively small and without expert attention, there are several important features to be considered independent of the satisfactory functioning of the apparatus under normal conditions. One of these features has to do with the physical installation of the device; another has to do with automatic and positive control of the liquid fuel supplied to it, so that in case the flame of the burner should be accidentally extinguished the flow of liquid fuel into it will stop by the action of the apparatus itself. Still another of these features has to do with so designing the device that its important parts can easily and quickly be reached for cleaning, for adjustment or for replacement. My invention is iiarticularly adapted to my device for vaporizing and burning liquid fuel, United States Patent 1,397,003, issued November 15, 1921. i

As then operated it was necessary to install the entire vaporizing and heat making portion of my device inside of the furnace that as to be heated, for instance. The multiplicity of furnace fire pot and fuel door sizes and shapes made each such installation a problem by itself and put arbitrary and often very narrow lin'iitations on what could be done at all.

Since my device practically consist-s of two elements, a vapor generator and a main vapor burner to give operative furnace heat, I decided to separate the two to such an extent that the vapor generating part of the ap1 )aratus should be installed outside of the furnace that is to be heated and only the main burner be placed insideof it, the pipe, or conduit, which carries vapor to the superimposed main burner in the old form being extended to reach the same main burner in another position.

Exhaustive tests in actual house heating service in from mild to below zero weather, extending over a period of more than two years. have shown not only the practicability of the change and its complete and satisfactory solution of the problem, but have demonstrated very important advantages. I have made no fundamental change in the construction of the device but have added important features made possible by the new disregarded in domestic use.

conditions. I have made the casing of vapor generator of fewer parts, more easily assembled and disassembled, and have given that entire portion of the device an independent entity in appearance as well as in fact.

In the form of liquid fuel vaporizer and burner set forth in my United States Patent, Number 1,397,003, the vapor generating part, being enclosed by the walls of the furnace in which it was installed, was left open at two of its opposite sides, or faces. For installation outside of a furnace there must be no open sides, or faces, to the vapor generating part and provision must be made for carrying to the main burner the combustible vapor produced by the vapor generating part and there delivering it to the main burner with little or no loss of heat.

The importance of a supply of heated air as an aid to combustion, while well understood by combustion engineers, is practically Few furnaces are so divised that any attempt is made in them to benefit by the introduction of heated air into the combustion chamber. Wherever it is done, even by crude methods, the efficiency of the fuel is noticeably increased. The greater the heat of the air supplied the greater is the effectiveness of the fuel consumed. In the form of liquid fuel vaporizer and burner set forth in my United States Patent, Number 1,397,003, heated air is supplied to the main burner with markedly beneficial effect. of the device and carried through hollow sides to be delivered into the main burner case. The conduits for this air passing close to the flame and heat of the auxiliary burner become very hot. i In the improved and preferred form of my device air is admitted into a conduit, or duct, opening at the base of one side of the vapor generator and is conducted by that conduit, or duct, up that side of the vapor generator, across its top and down the opposite side, to be delivered into the hollow base of the vapor generator below the auxiliary burner, whence it passes, by openings provided to give of its heated oxygen to the burner there. At the same time I have provided means by which any unchanged portion of this highly heated air that has passed through the vapor generator is conveyed, together with other unburned gases-and the products of combustion, to

Air is taken in at the base generator to the main burner.

be delivered below the main burner, in its furnace location. My preferred way for so conducting this hot air and these gases is bymeans of a pipe extending from the vapor generator into the furnace and discharging close below the main burner there, said pipe being of considerable size and enclosing the small pipe, or conduit, by which the com bustible vapor is carried from the vapor By this means the combustible vapor may be carried to a considerable distance, if necessary. without loss of efficiency, thereby giving welcome elasticity :to the problem of installation.

In the operation of such a device it is necessary that the flow of any required liquid into it shall be under automatic control. Float valves of various kinds have been used for stationary service, some of themwvith a good measure of success, particularly in units of considerable size. After much experimenting and many practical and extended tests under service conditions, I have developed a form. of float valve that has proved to be eminently satisfactory for use Where there is no vibration nor jar to assist in keeping the moving parts free to act instantaneously and smoothly,

weight of that needle being partly counterbalanced by the weight of the float. This helps to make the valve instantly and effectively responsive to the movement of any liquid and: permits the entire valve structure to be relatively small in size. This valve is set so that the water level in the boiler of the device shall be held at a predetermined height, the float valve rising and reducing, or closing, its water intake orifice in exact proportion to the required water level in the oiler; with any reduction below normal of the volume of the boiler water the valve at the intake will automatically open accordingly. A pipe connecting the upper part of the boiler with this valve insures a steam pressure in the valve'that helps to maintain the proper balance between the liquid in the boiler and in the valve. By providing that the'taper point of the valve needle shall engage only the sharp edge of the orifice for the intake of liquid I make certainthat no speck of dirt or any bit of foreign substance shall interfere with the instant and complete closing of this orifice, as might easily happen if the tapered needle were seated at its point of closing in an aperture of similar taper.

The float valve as thus described I use preferably for controlling the water flow into the boiler of my device. The flow of liquid fuel into the device I usually prefer to arbitrarily regulate by means of a needle valve actuated by hand by which. it may be graduated to yield a predetermined and constant amount at the will of tl16'tlS1,-Ol may be instantly changed to supply a greater or smaller volume of liquid fuel. A thermostatic attachment may easily be arranged to provide the necessary control. WVhen my device is in operation the water supply automatically adjusts itself to the requirements of the moment; it is by variation in the liquid fuel supply that the amount of heat generated is controlled.

In practice I have found it advantageous to combine both the water control and the liquid fuel control valve in such a manner as to cause them to synchronize and under conditions that automatically stop the flow of liquid fuel if for any cause the fire in the device should intentionally or unintentionally be put out. To accomplish this result I superimpose the liquid fuel control valve on the Water control valve and bring the steam connection from the boiler to a point between the two valves. This steam operates in the water control valve precisely as if that valve were acting alone, but by means of the steam pressure on a rubber, or other yielding diaphragm, the pin of a spring push valve is so controlled as to hold the liquid fuel flow at a predetermined volume, to modify it should the steam pressure fall and to stop it completely should the steam pressure disappear. I have found this a never failing safety device under severe tests.

I prefer to close the sides of the vapor generator not covered by the conduit, or duct, by a removable plate on one side and by a door on the other side. For ease of access to the indicated elements of the vapor generator I preferably make that part of its metal casing, which includes the door, and the conduit, or duct, from its air intake opening to its point of discharge into the hollow base, so that it can be lifted bodily from its place, or, by means of hinges basically and anteriorly disposed, be opened downwardly and outwardly.

In the form of my device described in United States Patent, Number 1,397,003 I provided foraminous openings, or holes, in the walls adjacent to the burners for the admission of air to the auxiliary burner and to the main burner. The work of drilling these holes was slow and costly. I now prefer to cast slots in all such parts of the device as being equally effective and much less expensive to make while permitting, with practically no additional cost (any desirable thickness of metal at point of exposure to great heat. These slots are open at their lower end and, in effect, produce in each instance a circle of taper fingers surroundingexternally and internally the vapor burner ring I, of the auxiliary burner and the Iprecisely similar ring in the main burner Q.

I have found that in furnace installations where the desire is to concentrate the heat rather than to cause any considerable portion of it to spread radially it is better to do away with the spreader plate 1, and the precisely similar one in the main burner K, permitting the combustible vapor in each instance to be discharged upwardly, untrammelled, from the burner ring. A metal collar fitted to their outside circumference directs the oxygen-yielding air flow centrally upward through the burner rings and de livers the volume of flame and heat in a 'very effectively concentrated form.

I In ve made various other improvements over the design described in United States Patent, Number 1,397,003, for instance the placing of drain cocks at low points below the main burner and below the auxiliary burner, for the easy removal of any excess liquid or condensate; the giving of a slight drainage pitch to the burner ring of both the main and of the auxiliary burner and the placing of leg supports under the boiler in the vapor generator.

The nature and scope of my present invention will be more fully understood from. the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which Figure l is a diagrammatic View partly in cross section and partly in perspective of my entire device.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the water control valve.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the liquid fuel control valve and of the top of the water control valve showing how steam from the boiler is delivered between the two valves to exert its pressure simultaneously and uniformly on the diaphragm of the liquid fuel control valve and on the contents of the water control valve.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the vapor generator with a port-ion of the metal casing partially removed.

Referring to the drawings A represents the metal casing of the vapor generator, B represents the conduit or dust for air, C represents the boiler, one of its supporting legs being shown as 0, D represents the superheater, E represents the tubular retort, F represents the reservoir, G represents the liquid fuel control valve, H represents the water control valve, I represents one half of the auxiliary burner ring, K represents the main burner, L represents the auxiliary burner with a portion broken away to show the slots and burner ring.

In operating my device water is admitted to the boiler C, by the pipe h, from the water control valve H, and there vaporized as described in my United States Patent,

Number 1,397,003, the steam passing into the superheater D, at the boiler outlet 0 By the pipe 9, from the liquid fuel control valve G, liquid fuel is fed into the superheater, the trap g, which I usually make very much longer than there shown, helping to maintain the desired and regular flow. Vaporization of the liquid fuel instantly begins on contact with the superheated steam and is continued into the retort E, from which its mixture of the two vapors passes by the pipe 6, into the reservoir F, whence by the pipe f, it is conducted to the auxiliary burner, where it discharges by the orifices in the burner ring I, to be burned in theauxiliary burner L, and by the pipe f, to the main burner to be there burned as in the auxiliary burner. The baffle plate a, forces unconsumed air and the products of combustion to circulate in the upper part of thevapor generator before passing downwardly to go through the large pipe at, enclosing the vapor pipe 7, to be delivered below the main burner K, the valve g in the liquid fuel line works with a needle above a graduated scale and is set to permit the passage of a predetermined amount of liquid fuel. The pipe 0 carries steam from the boiler and discharges it into an opening below the diaphragm X, of the liquid fuel valve and communicating with the float compartment of the water control valve 7L5. Air is admitted to the conduit, or duct B, in the metal casing of the vapor generator at the base of one side and passing circumferentially around it is discharged into the hollow base 6 whence it passes by openings provided to support combustion in the auxiliary burner L. The water control valve H, receives its liquid by the pipe h, which thence passing around the taper point of the needle 72?, proceeds, mainly by the duct h but partially through the needle compartment it, for discharge into the float compartment if the float it, being ri idly attached to one end of an arm 71 having but one pin bearing lb and movably engaging the needle 7L9, by insertion in a notch, or recess it moves with no possibility of binding and with a minimum of friction, causing the valve to respond positively and instantly to any movement of the float; the discharge pipe h, carries water directly into the boiler C, the pipe 0 connecting the upper part of this valve with the boiler C, providing balancing steam pressure in that valve. In the combined and superimposed form of valves Fig. 4, the steam pressure from the boiler through the pipe 0 is exerted uniformly on the underside of the diaphragm X, and on the contents of the water control valve H, the pressure on the diaphragm X, lifting the pin 00, and forcing up the end of the lever 00 which by relative depression of its opposite arm m supply line g, automatically. proportioned to the requirements of the moment and shutting "off the liquid fuel flow entirely should actuating pressure disappear from the underside of the diaphragm X. In Fig. 5, the part of the metal casing of the vapor generator which includes the conduit, or duct, from its intake opening to the point of discharge intothe hollow base 5 is shown partially lifted to expose the vapor generating parts, the pipe 02", is for supplying illuminating ga s, if available, for giving initial heat when the device is started. If illuminating gas is not available I use some other quickburning substance as described in my United States Patent 1,397,003, November 15', 1921.

Having thus described the nature and object of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device for generating "and utilizing fuel gas, having main and auxiliary burners, the main burner being located inside of the furnace that is to be heated and the auxiliary burner, with its adjuncts, together constituting th'e yapor generator, being located outside of the furnace that is to be heated, the "apor generator consisting of a steam boiler and superheater, exposed to the flame and heat ofthe auxiliary burner, a tubular retortconnected at its inlet endto the superheater and at its outlet end to a reservoir from which, through piping means, combustible vapoiyor fuel gas, is supplied to the main burner and by another pipe to the auxiliaryburner, a liquid fuel supply pipe connected with the sup'erheater, a water supply pipe connected with the boiler; thedescribed vapor generator parts being metal encased, as a unit and having in said metal casing a conduit, or duct,.passing up one side, across the top down the opposite side and discharging into the hollow base of said metal casing to give of its oxygen, heated by contact with high temperature surfaces, to add to the efficiency of combustion in the auxiliary burner, substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A device for generating and utilizing fuel having main and auxiliary burners, the main burner being located inside of the furnac' that is to be heated and the auxiliary burner, with its associate parts, together constituting the vapor generator, being located outside of the furnace that is to be heated, the vapor generator consisting of a steam boiler and superheater exposedto the fiaine and heat of the auxiliary burner, a tubular retort conneetedat its inlet end to the superheat'er and-at it's outlet end to a reservoir from which, piping niearis, coinbustible vapor, or fuel gas, is supplied to the main burner and, by another pipe, to the auxiliary burner, 'a liquid fuel supply pipe connectedwith the superheater, a water supply pipeconnected with the boiler, the described vapor generating parts being encased in metal "and having in said metal casing a conduit or 'duct, with an opening for the adinissionfo'f air, said conduit, or duct, being exposed to the flame and heatof the auxiliary burner and discharging the highly heatedair that passes through it in a p'ositionto give of its oxygen to the auxiliary burner, a baffle plate in the vapor generator to force heated air and the products of combustion tocirculate in upper parts of the vapor generator before being carried ,to the mainburner in a pipe' encl sing said vapor supplypip'e, the auxiliary and the main burners.receivingair through slots, or openings, in the metal internaland external walls between which each burner 'delivers combustible vapor, substantially as and for the purposes described. 1 p

3. A device for generating and burning fuel gas having main and auxiliary burners, the main burner being located inside of the furnace that is to heated and the auxiliary burner being located outside of the furnace that is to be heated, the vapor generator consisting of asteam boiler and superheater exposed. to the flame and heat of the auxiliary burner, a tubular retort connected at its inlet end to the .superheater. and at its outlet end to a reservoir from which, by piping means, combustible vapor, or fuel gas, is supplied to the main burner and, by another pipe, to the auxiliary burner, a liquid fuel supply pipe, connected with the superheater and a water supply pipe connected with the boiler each of said supply pipes having independent valvular control but both valves being connected by piping means with the boiler of the vapor generator in such manner, that steam from the boiler affects both valves synchronously, the described vapor generator parts being encased in metal and havingin said metal casing a conduit, or duct, with an opening at one end for the admission of air, which air after passing circumferentially around. the vapor generator, discharges into the hollow base of the said metal casing to give of its oxygen, heated by contact with, high temperature surfaces, to add to the efficiency of combustion in the auxiliary burner, substantially as and for the purposesv described.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto setmy signature.

MANLY M. GILLAM. 

